The Phoenix Professional Quilting Frame Copyright January 1, 2016 Jim M. Bagley, GraceWood, Inc (Reproduction Prohibited) Version 2.1 1
The Phoenix Professional Quilting Frame Parts List Box 1...3 Box 2...4 Box 3...5 Hardware...5 Tools...5 Assembly Steps Step 1 - Height Adjustable Leg Assembly...6 Step 2 - Table Top To Side...6 Step 3 - Attach Middle Leg Assembly...6 Step 4 - Connect Front Bar...7 Step 5 - Attach Support Plates...7 Step 6 - Attach Front Rail Support...7 Step 7 - Bungee Adjustment...8 Step 8 - Gearbox and Shaft Assembly...8 Step 9 - Track Support Assembly...9 Step 10 - Track Insertion...9 Step 11 - Track Support Installation...9 Step 12 - Track Alignment...10 Step 13 - Plastic Table Installation...10 Step 14 - Rail End Cap Assembly...11 Step 15 - Rail Connection...11 Step 16 - Rail Installation...12 Step 17 - Top Carriage Alignment...13 Step 18 - Machine Attachment...13 Fabric Installation Fabric Installation Over View...14 Leader Cloth Installation Instructions...14 Installing Fabric Onto Rails...14 Step 1 - Quilt Backing to 2nd rail...15 Step 2 - Quilt top to 3rd rail...15 Step 3 - Batting...16 Step 4 - Attaching Quilt Fabric To Take Up Rail...16 Rolling Quilt Fabric...16 Bungee Clamp Installation...16 Leader Cloth Instructions...17 2
Box 1 Parts List Middle Leg Assembly (1) Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly (1) Rail End Cap (7) Bungee Clamps (4) Left Side Assembly (1) Right Gearbox Assembly (1) Left Gearbox Assembly (1) Wheel Knob (2) Ratchet (3) Right Side Assembly (1) Left Front Rail Support Assembly (1) Right Front Rail Support Assembly(1) 3
Box 2 Frame Table (2) Track Support (4) Plastic Table (2) Plastic Track 12 ft. (4) Plastic Track 6 ft. (4) Side Support Plate (4) Front Support Plate (1) Back Support Plate (1) Track Support Coupler(2) 4
Box 3 Front Bar (2) Shaft (1) Shaft Coupler(2) Rail Coupler (4) Box 4 Fabric Rail (8) Bottom Carriage (1) Top Carriage (1) Hardware (in Box 1) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw (50) M6 X 10 mm Connector Bolt (16) Tools M6 X 16 mm Set Screws (8) M8 Jam Nut (2) M8 Eye Bolt (2) Bungee Stop (4) (1) 3mm Allen M3 Allen Wrench (1) M4 Allen Wrench (1) (1) 4mm M5 Allen Wrench (1) 5 M6 Allen Wrench (1) (1) 3mm Allen (1) 4mm Allen 10mm and 13mm Wrench (1)
Step 1 - Height Adjustable Leg Assembly Fig. 1.1 1 - Right Side Assembly 1 - Left Side Assembly 1 - Middle Leg Assembly * (for King Size) 1-1: To adjust the height of the leg, remove the pre-assembled M8 X 50 mm Pins and loosen the M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw, as shown in Fig. 1.1. Reinsert the M8 X 50 mm Pins into the leg at desired height. Then tighten the M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw. M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw M8 X 50 mm Pin 1-2: Repeat Step 1-1 for all other legs. Step 2 - Table Top to Side 4 1 1 2 - Fig. 2.1 M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw Right Side Assembly Left Side Assembly Frame Table* ( 1 Frame Top for Crib Size) 2-1: Lay Side Assemblies on their side, as shown in Fig. 2.1. Slide the Frame Table in the brackets. Then use (2) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws to connect the Right Side Assembly to the Frame Table. Make sure the side of the Frame Table with the holes is touching the floor, as shown in Fig. 2.1. M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw 2-2: Repeat Step 2-1 for the Left Side Holes Assembly, using same Frame Table for the Crib Size and the second Frame Table for the King Size. Step 3 - Attach Middle Assembly* 4 1 1 1 Fig. 3.1 - (For King Size only) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw Right Side Assembly with Frame Table Left Side Assembly with Frame Table Middle Assembly 3-1: With your Left and Right Side Assemblies still on their sides, place the Middle Leg Assembly at the joint and attach it to the Frame Tables with (4) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws, as shown in Fig. 3.1. M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw 6
Step 4 - Connect Front Bar Figure 4.1 4 - M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw* 2 - Front Bar* *(2 Screws and 1 Front Bar for Crib Size) 4-1: With someone s help,tilt the Table into a standing position. M8 X 16 mm Now place (2) Front Bars at the Socket Head front of the frame with the slotted Screw holes on top, and attach to the frame using (4) M8 Socket Head Screws, as shown in Fig. 4.1. Note: For Crib attach one Front Bar to both sides and not the middle. Step 5 - Attach Support Plates 26 - M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw* M8 X 16 mm 4 - Side Support Plate Socket Head 1 - Back Support Plate* Screws 1 - Front Support Plate* *(no Back or Front Support Plate and only 16 Screws in Crib Size, skip Step 5-2, for Crib Size) Fig. 5.1 5-1: Attach (4) Side Support Plates to the corners of the frame using (16) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws, as shown in Figure 5.1. 5-2: Attach the Back Support Plate to the back of the Middle Leg Assembly of the frame in the back using (6) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws. Attach the Front Support Plate to the front using (4) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws. Step 6 - Attach Front Rail Support 8 - M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw 2 - M8 Eye Bolt 2 - M8 Jam Nut 1 - Right Front Rail Support Assembly 1 - Left Front Rail Support Assembly 6-1: Using (4) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws attach the Right Front Rail Support Assembly to the right front corner of the frame using the corresponding hole for your machine as shown in Fig. 6.1 for the Ansley 26 putting an M8 Eye Bolt and an M8 Jam Nut behind the Right Front Rail Support Assembly or Fig. 6.2 for the Tin Lizzie 18 replacing (1) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw with an M8 Eye Bolt and an M8 Jam Nut. 6-2: Repeat Step 6-1 for Left Front Rail Support Assembly. 7 M8 Eye Bolt M8 Jam Nut M8 Jam Nut M8 Eye Bolt M8 X 16 mm M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws Socket Head Screws Fig. 6.1 Ansley 26 Fig. 6.2 Tin Lizzie 18
Step 7 - Bungee Adjustment* (only for Ansley 26 Sewing Machine) Fig. 7.1 7-1: For an Ansley Machine unscrew the (4) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws holding the (2) Bungee Tubes in place. Bungee Tube 7-2: Move both Bungee Tubes closer to the front of the frame and reattach the (4) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws as shown in Fig. 7.1. M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws Step 8 - Gearbox and Shaft Assembly Right Gearbox Assembly M8 X 12 mm Hex Bolts 1 - Shaft* 2 - Shaft Coupler* 1 - Right Gearbox Assembly 1 - Left Gearbox Assembly 4 - M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screw Fig. 8.1 *(The Shaft and (1) Shaft Coupler are not used in Crib Size. Skip steps 8-2 and 8-3 for Crib Size.) 8-1: Attach the Right Gearbox Assembly to the right Fig. 8.2 side of frame by tightening (2) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws into the Frame Side, as shown in Figure 8.1. 8-2: Place the Shaft through the plastic hole in the center of the frame, as shown in Figure 8.2. Shaft 8-3: Connect the shafts together with a Shaft Coupler tightening until they are touching and then lock them down using (4) M6 X 16 Set Screws, as shown in Fig. 8.4. Plastic Hole 8-4: Put the Left Gearbox Assembly on the left side of the frame first by placing a Shaft Coupler in between the shafts and lining them up, as shown in Fig. 8.4. 8-5: Thread (2) M8 X 12 mm Socket Head Screws through the Left Gearbox Assembly and completely tighten them. 8-6: Tighten the M6 X 16 mm Set Screws in the Shaft Coupler and left shaft. Fig. 8.3 8-7: Screw Wheel Knobs onto each Gearbox Wheel, as shown in Fig. 8.3. 8 M6 X 16 mm Set Screws Fig. 8.4
Step 9 - Track Support Assembly* (For King Size only) 8 - M6 X 16 mm Set Screw 4 - Track Support 2 - Track Support Coupler Track Support Coupler Fig. 9.1 M6 X 16 mm Set Screws Track Support 9-1: Slide half of a Track Support Coupler into a Track Support and lock the Coupler in place by using (2) M6 X 16 mm Set Screws. 9-2: Side another Track Support over the rest of the Track Support Coupler and then lock the Coupler in place by using M6 X 16 mm Set Screws, as shown in Fig. 9.1. 9-3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to create another Track Support Assembly. Step 10 - Track Insertion 2 - Track Support Assembly 4 - Plastic Track* (for King Size) 4-6 ft. Plastic Track* (for Crib Size) Track Support Assembly Fig. 10.1 Plastic Track 10-1: Slide (2) Plastic Track into the groves of the Track Support Assembly, as shown in Figure 10.1. 10-2: Repeat Step 10-1 for remaining Track Support Assembly. Fig. 11.1 Step 11 - Track Installation 2 - Track Support Assembly 16 - M6 X 10 mm Connector Bolt* *(only 8 Connector Bolts for Crib Size) 11-1: Lay one of the Track Support Assemblies on the front and one on the back of your frame. Track Support Assembly M6 X 10 mm Connector Bolt 11-2: Screw M6 X 10 mm Connector Bolt into each of the holes, as shown in Figure 11.1, do not to completely tighten the bolts at this time. 9
Step 12 - Track Alignment 1 - Bottom Carriage Fig. 12.1 12-1: Place the Bottom Carriage on the tracks and slide it across the frame, adjust the tracks so they line up with the wheels and the Bottom Carriage, as shown in Fig. 12.1. This allows your carriage to glide smoothly across the frame during quilting. 12-2: Once the track is lined up, tighten the M6 X 10 mm Connector Bolts under the track until they are tight and the track can not be moved. Remove the Bottom Carriage until later. Bottom Carriage Step 13 - Plastic Table Installation 2 - Plastic Table* Fig. 13.1 *(Only (1) Plastic Table is needed for Crib Size) Plastic Tables 13-1: Lay the Plastic Table against the back Track Support and against one side of the frame, over the foam strips, as shown in Fig. 13.1. 13-2: Lay the other Table against the back Track Support and against the other side of the frame. 10
Step 14 - Rail End Cap Assembly Fig. 14.1 Conduit Cap Wedge M8 Washers 8 - Fabric Rail* 7 - Rail End Cap Fabric Rail 3 - Ratchet 1 - Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly Ratchet *(Only use (4) Fabric Rails for Crib Size) Conduit Cap M8 Nut M8 X 38 mm Plastic Spacer M8 X 70 mm Socket Head Screw Note: For Crib size make one Rail with only Rail End Caps on each side (with steel Spacers), two with only a Rail End Cap on one side and a Rail End Cap with a Ratchet on the other, and one Rail with a Rail End Cap on one side and the Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly with a Ratchet on the other side. Rail End Caps with Steel Spacers Rail End Caps with Steel Spacers Rail End Caps with Plastic Spacers Batting Rail (1) Ratchet Rail End Caps with Plastic Spacers Top Fabric and Backing Rails (2) Ratchet Take Up Rail (1) Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly 14-1: Slide (3) Ratchets on (3) Fabric Rails, matching the ridges in the Ratchet with the groves in the Fabric Rail. Rail End Caps come assembled. Steps 14-2, 14-3 and 14-5 are for changing to Crib or King after frame has been assembled and can otherwise be skipped. Note: If a Rail End Cap is disassembled place the M8 Nut into the back of the Conduit Cap and slide the M8 X 70 mm Socket Head Screw through an M8 Washer, M8 X 38 mm Plastic Spacer, another M8 Washer, and Conduit Cap, then lightly tighten the screw into the M8 Nut, as shown in Fig. 14.1. 14-2: Slide (6) Rail End Caps into the ends of (2) Fabric Rails with Ratchets and (5) Fabric Rails without Ratchets. Tighten the Socket Head Screws. Fig. 14.2 Note: If the Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly is disassembled, make the Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly by using Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly M8 X 90 mm Slotted Socket Head Screw the M8 X 90 mm Slotted Socket Head Screw followed by the Wheel Assembly, M8 Washer, M8 X 38 mm Steel Spacer, another M8 Washer, and Conduit Cap with the M8 Nut placed in back, as shown in Fig. 14.2. Firmly tighten the Assembly and place it into the last Rail with the Ratchet, finish by tightening the M8 X 90 mm Slotted Socket Head Screw. 11
Step 15 - Rail Connection* (For King Size only) 1 - Fabric Rail Assembly with Hand Wheel 5 - Fabric Rail Assembly without Ratchet 2 - Fabric Rail Assembly with Ratchet 4 - Rail Coupler 16 - M8 X 16 mm Set Screw Rails Rail Coupler M6 X 16 mm Set Screws Fig. 15.1 Rail End Caps with Steel Spacers Rail End Caps with Steel Spacers Batting Rail (1) Rail End Caps with Plastic Spacers Ratchet Rail End Caps with Plastic Spacers Top Fabric and Backing Rails (2) Ratchet Take Up Rail (1) Take Up Rail Wheel Assembly 15-1: Slide a Rail Coupler into the open end of a Fabric Rail Assembly with a Ratchet and line the holes up. Use (2) M6 X 16 mm Set Screws to tighten the Rail to the Coupler, as shown in Fig. 15.1. 15-2: Slide a Fabric Rail Assembly without a Ratchet on the other end of the coupler. Again line up the holes and tighten (2) M6 X 16 mm Set Screws into the Coupler through the Rail. 15-3: Repeat Steps 15-1 and 15-2 until you have three Fabric Rail Assemblies and then make the fourth assembly using (2) Fabric Rail Assemblies without Ratchets and Steel Spacers for the Batting Rail. 12
Step 16 - Rail Installation 1 - Fabric Rail Assembly without Ratchet 2 - Fabric Rail Assembly with Ratchet 1 - Fabric Rail Assembly with Hand Wheel Fig. 16.1 16-1: Place the Fabric Rail without Ratchet into the rail holder on the bottom of the frame for the batting rail, as shown in Fig. 16.1. 16-2: The (2) Fabric Rail Assembly with Ratchet go on the rail holders on the front of the frame with the ratchets going on the right side of the frame, as shown in Fig. 16.2. 16-3: The Fabric Rail Assembly with Hand Wheel goes in the rail holders on the top back of the frame with the hand wheel on the right side of the frame. 16-3: Spin the Rails, as shown in Fig. 16.2, to make sure the ratchets are working. Take Up Rail Fig. 16.2 Quilt Top Rail Quilt Backing Rail Batting Rail 13
Step 17 - Top Carriage Alignment M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws 1 - Top Carriage 1 - Bottom Carriage Top Carriage 17-1: Place the Top Carriage on the Bottom Carriage and loosen the M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws on the Top Carriage. Fig. 17.1 17-2: Line up the wheels so all (8) wheels are touching the track as it slides, as shown in Fig. 17.1. 17-3: Retighten all (8) M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws. 17-4: Place both the Bottom and Top Carriages on the frame. Fig. 18.1 Step 18 - Machine Attachment Bottom Carriage 1 - Top Carriage 1 - Tin Lizzie Quilting Machine 18-1: Loosen the M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws on the Top Carriage, as shown is Fig. 18.1, and center your machine side to side over the Top Carriage and set the machine down on the Top Carriage. M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws 18-3: Retighten the M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws on the Top Carriage. Congratulations! You have completed the assembly of your Quilting Frame. All that remains is to install your fabric and begin quilting! 18-2: For the 26 inch machine move Top Carriage to the back of the Bottom Carriage and adjust the machine so the needle is about 1/4 inch in front of the Take Up Rail. For the 18 inch machine make sure the machine is centered so the needle can be in any point between the Rails. 18-4: Check if wheels are touching. If not loosen M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws from Step 17-1, move until wheels are aligned and retighten M8 X 16 mm Socket Head Screws. We recommend you begin with practice material allowing you to experiment with machine settings and stitching techniques. NOTE: As you cut the fabric layers, we recommend making the quilt backing about 6-8 longer and 2-4 wider than the top. This will allow for a little give in the backing, especially if using thicker batting. 14
Fabric Installation: Using leader cloths enable you to finish your quilt completely, end to the end, without having to take your quilt off the frame. Fabric Installation Overview 3rd rail 2nd rail take up leader top fabric (Step 1) backing (Step 2) Step 1: Install quilt top to 2nd rail and roll up. Step 2: Install quilt backing to the 3rd rail and roll up. Step 3: Install batting to the 4th rail and roll up. Step 4: Attach quilt backing to take up rail. Step 5: Attach batting to take up rail. Step 6: Attach quilt top to take up rail. 1st rail (take up rail) 3rd rail 2nd rail 1st rail 4th rail batting top fabric backing Fig. FI-1 batting (Step 3) 4th rail Fig. FI-2 Leader Cloth Installation Instructions Preview Step L1: Draw a straight line all the way across each of your fabric rails with a black magic marker. Step L2: Mark the center of each cloth leader on both edges (Length-wise). Also place a mark at the center of each of the fabric rails. Always measure to the center of the rails from the same end of the quilting frame. Draw the lines at the center of each rail so that they cross the lines previously drawn across the rails. Step L3: Now you need to attach your leaders to their respective rails. The fabric can easily be attached to the rails by applying a piece of adhesive backed hook Velcro along the lines that you have drawn down each fabric rail. backing leader 15 2nd 3rd 4th Fig. FI-3 top fabric leader 1st take up leader Note: This illustration shows the cloth leaders installed on each rail prior to your quilt layers being installed.
Installing Fabric Layers Onto Rails STEP 1: Quilt Top To 2nd Rail Step 1-1: Determine which will be the front and back edges of your quilt. Step 1-2: Line up the center of your fabric layer with the center of the cloth leader on the 2nd Rail. Pin the back edge of your top to the leader cloth. This is to be done with the finished side of the fabric facing up. 3rd take up leader top fabric 1st 2nd backing batting Step 1-3: Do not stretch or pull the fabric during this process. Let it lay as naturally as possible. Step 1-4: Roll your leader and top onto the 2nd rail completely. Again, be sure the fabrics stay lined up. Smooth out any wrinkles as you roll by brushing the fabric from the center out, being very careful not to stretch or pull the fabric excessively. NOTE! It is important that you roll the rail the proper direction so the fabric rolls onto the 2nd rail the right way (when fabric rolls off the rail toward the take-up rail, it should roll under and off the rail. See Fig. FI-4). STEP 2: Quilt Backing To 3rd Rail Fig. FI-4 2nd 3rd 4th top fabric 1st Step 2-1: To begin, determine which will be the front and back edges of your quilt backing (make sure the backing is not wider than your quilting frame). Note: If your backing is made up of more than one piece of fabric, cut your selvedges off and flatten them out to allow the backing the proper give it needs. Fig. FI-5 2nd 4th 1st Step 2-2: Line up the center of your fabric layer with the center of the cloth leader on the 3rd rail. Pin the back edge of your backing to the leader cloth. This is to be done with the finished side of the fabric facing down. Note: Do not stretch or pull the fabric during this process, let it lay as naturally as possible. 3rd batting Step 2-3: Roll your leader and backing onto the 3rd rail completely. Watch to make sure the fabric stays lined up. Smooth out any wrinkles as you roll by brushing the fabric from the center out. However, be very careful not to stretch or pull the fabric excessively. Note: It is important that you roll the rail the proper direction so the fabric rolls over and onto the 3rd rail (Fig. FI-4). 16 Fig. FI-6 4th
STEP 3: Batting Step 3-1: A light, bonded batting is recommended. Step 3-2: Center the batting on the 4th rail. Roll the batting onto the 4th rail, being sure to roll the proper direction so that it, like the quilt top, comes off the rail from the bottom when unrolling. STEP 4: Attaching Your Quilt Layers To The Take-Up Rail Step 4-1: Take the edge of the quilt backing and pin it along the straight line of the take up rail leader in a smooth manner, without stretching your fabric. backing 3rd batting quilt top 1st 2nd 4th Fig. FI-7 Step 4-2: Next, bring your batting up in between the 3rd rail and 2nd rail and drape over the backing. Lay it along the pin line of your backing on the take up rail cloth leader. Step 4-3: Finally, bring the quilt top up over the backing and batting and lay it over the batting along the pin line on the take up rail cloth leader. Pin your top and batting along the same line as your backing so that it is smooth. Rolling Your Fabric When you have completed your work area and are ready to move to the next, simply release the ratchet stops on the 2nd and 3rd rails, allowing them to roll freely. Then, roll the 1st rail forward, rolling the completed work area onto that rail. TIP! As you roll forward, the quilt will accumulate on the 1st rail. Be sure to raise the take up rail brackets slightly as needed, so that the bottom of the rolled up fabric stays about 1/8 above the throat plate of your sewing machine base. Failing to do so will cause your carriage assembly to roll less smoothly. Bungee Clamp Installation There are four Bungee Clamps provided with your Quilting Frame. The Bungee Clamps allow you to easily add side tension to your quilt fabric. Clip your bungee Clamps to the quilt fabric, then insert the loose end of the Bungee Cord through the Bungee Tube and pull it to the side Bungee Stop on to lock it into place, as shown in Fig. BC1-1. Fabric Bungee Clamp Bungee Bar Bungee Cord Fig. BC1-1 Cord Stop 17
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